Lonnie bunch biography
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Lonnie Bunch
Director of the Smithsonian Institution (born )
Lonnie G. Bunch III (born November 18, ) is an American educator and historian. Bunch is the fourteenth secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the first African American and first historian to serve as head of the Smithsonian. He has spent most of his career as a history museum curator and administrator.
Bunch served as the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) from to He previously served as president and director of the Chicago History Museum (Chicago Historical Society) from to [1] In the s, he was the first curator at the California African American Museum, and then a curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, wherein the s, he rose to head curatorial affairs. In , he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Bunch was born in Newark, New Jersey, in [ • Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian since June 16, He oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and various education units, including the developing National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Prior to becoming secretary, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, transforming it from a concept with no staff, collections, or funding into a museum that has welcomed over 8 million visitors since its opening. Before creating the museum, Bunch was president of the Chicago Historical Society, where he led a capital campaign, managed a reorganization, and initiated outreach to diverse communities. He has published books on topics such as the Black military experience, the American presidency, and diversity in museum management. His book, A Fool’s Errand, is a chronicle of the creation of the National Muse • Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th sekreterare of the Smithsonian. He assumed his position June 16, As Secretary, he oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers and several education units and centers. Two new museums—the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum—are in development. Previously, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. When he started as director in July , he had one personal member, no collections, no funding and no site for a museum. Driven by optimism, determination and a commitment to build “a place that would make amerika better,” Bunch transformed a vision into a djärv reality. The museum has welcomed more than 11 million visitors since it opened in September and has compiled a collection of 40, objects that are housed in the first “green building” on the National Mall. In , the creation of the museum became the first